Eurochild Child Guarantee Taskforce: what have we achieved?

In October 2021, Eurochild created a Child Guarantee Taskforce with the support of Tanya’s Dream Fund. Since then, the Taskforce members have worked together to keep the Child Guarantee on the political agenda and provide recommendations for national governments to include in their National Action Plans (NAPs).

All National Action Plans should have been published by the 15 March 2022. However, only 15 National Action Plans have been published to this date.

In January 2022, Eurochild published 6 Child Guarantee Taskforce Country Reports that included general suggestions for all Member States and a specific set of recommendations for Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, and Spain to consider in their NAPs.

The Eurochild Child Guarantee Taskforce project has completed its objectives, and we’d like to acknowledge what was achieved.

At EU level, the work of the Eurochild Child Guarantee Taskforce:

• Was included in over 60 meetings and events with EU Institutions, including meetings and events with rotating Council Presidencies from Slovenia, France and Czechia;
• Was shared directly by the European Commission with all Child Guarantee National Coordinators, which were strongly recommended to read our Country Reports and reach out to engage with Civil Society Organisations;
• Is a key focus in a range of Eurochild publications, including - Making the Child Guarantee a success - Children’s civil society to drive national action and The Child Guarantee: what a difference a year makes - from celebrations to concerns.

Additionally, the Country Reports are included in our one-page overviews that draw attention to specific content in published National Action Plans.

As Eurochild, we will continue to advocate for the Child Guarantee, as a key element to end child poverty in Europe. The publication of any National Action Plan is only the first step. We need national governments to implement these plans, and for all stakeholders, including children, to be involved in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation process.  

We are continuing to prioritise the Child Guarantee. The Eurochild Semester Report, to be published in December 2022, will include how our members were involved in developing their national plans.  

The overviews of published National Action Plans, published from June 2022, are intended to summarise key elements and signpost stakeholders to other relevant Eurochild publications for that country. In addition, members are using these publications as a tool in their advocacy messaging for the Child Guarantee, such as what is to be celebrated and what is missing.

We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all the work done with our members in the Eurochild Child Guarantee Taskforce. Although the project has come to an end, our work on the Child Guarantee is far from over.

Did you know?

The European Child Guarantee Recommendation, unanimously adopted by Member States on 14 June 2021, aims to "guarantee" children in need access to key services to prevent and combat poverty and social exclusion. The Child Guarantee is expected to contribute to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and achieve the EU target of lifting at least 5 million children out of poverty.

Article 11(c) of the Child Guarantee ‘recommended’ that Member States submit a NAP by 15 March 2022. However, only 15 National Action Plans have been published to this date. These plans should outline the children most vulnerable, and the planned and existing policies and measures to support their needs. The plans should also be drafted in consultation with children, civil society and national authorities. Unfortunately, such consultation is not evident in many of the National Action Plans available so far.